Earth scooping bucket attachment for breaking hardened ground or the like



C. BUISSE EARTH SCOOPING BUCKET ATTACHMENT FOR BREAKING HARDENED GROUNDOR THE LIKE June 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1956 R m w W,4 T TOR/VEV June 17, 1958 c, u ss 2,838,856

EARTH SCOOPING BUCKET ATTACHMENT FOR BREAKING HARDENED GROUND OR THELIKE Filed March 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES BUIYSSE ATTORNEYEARTH SCOGPING BUCKET ATTACHMENT FDR BREAKING HARDENED GROUND OR THELIKE Charles Buisse, Racine, Wis. Application March 26, 1956, Serial No.573,930 Claims. c1. 37-142 This invention relates to earth workingimplements and, more particularly, it relates to an earth scoopingbucket attachment for breaking hardened ground or the like.

It is well-known that a problem exists with respect to digging groundwhich is frozen and/or hardened by pressure such as that found in a dirtroad. With respect to a road in a locale having freezing temperatures,the combined packed and frozen depth of the road often extends two feetbeneath the ground line. This obviously creates a problem whenattempting to use the normal digging equipment under the conditionsmentioned. Attempts to use trenching buckets by dropping them, orotherwise causing them to strike the surface of the hardened ground, donot permit the buckets to break the ground sufiiciently for subsequentefiicient digging since the bucket is provided with a plurality ofteeth, all of which simultaneously strike the ground and, therefore, donot penetrate it. Also, even when the usual bucket is employed forground breaking, the teeth are often damaged, and costly repairs arethen necessary.

nited States Patent Another method of breaking hardened ground is thatwhich employs a pneumatic ram, such as the well-known air hammer, butthis, of course, requires the special equipment, and it has, in fact,been found to take more time since the air compressor and hammer must bebrought to the work site, and this equipment can break or chip onlysmall areas of the ground which must be eventually scooped in asubsequent operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for breakinghardened ground with the means being inexpensive, readily available, andeflicient in its operation.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an attachment forthe standard earth scooping bucket wherein the attachment can be readilyattached and detached with respect to the bucket, and wherein theattachment can be attached to the bucket for use in the manner whichavoids the danger of damaging the bucket.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an earth scoopingbucket with an attachment for breaking hardened ground and also forpermitting scooping of the broken ground, with both operations performedin one motion of the bucket.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a standard earth scooping bucketwith a preferred embodiment of this invention attached to the bucket.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1. V

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

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The drawings show a well-known form of earth scoop or bucket 10 with apreferred embodiment of an attachment 11 mounted on the bucket. Itshould be understood that the bucket 10 is operatively supported todepend from support arms 12 and cables 13 suitably attached to the boomof the supporting and controlling machine which is not shown. Thus, itshould be understood that the connectors 12 pivotally attach to cars 14and 15 which are integral with the bucket 10. The means for pivotalattachment is shown to be pins 16 and 17 while pins 18 suitablypivotally connect the cables 13 through a member 19 to the bucket ears15. Referring again to the bucket 10, it will be noted that it consistsof the usual sides 21 and the usual bottom section 22, with the sidesand the bottom section suitably connected together in the usual mannersuch as welding at the junctures therebetween. Also, the bottom sectionof the bucket 10 terminates in the usual front edge or lip 23, and aplurality of bucket teeth 24 are suitably attached to' the bottomsection 22 to project forwardly of the lip 23 with respect to thescooping direction of the bucket. It will be noted that the forwardportion of the bottom section 22 actually is preferably composed of aheavier section 26 to which the teeth 24 are suitably welded orotherwise attached, as shown. The teeth are composed of a wedge shapedor pointed cap section which is snugly fitted over similarly wedgeshaped base sections which are shown welded to the portion 26 of thebucket bottom section.

Since the foregoing is of a conventional nature, no further disclosurethereof is deemed to be necessary. However, it should be understood thatthe bucket could be provided with a different number of teeth, and alsothe precise construction and formation of the bucket could vary withinthe scope of this invention. Therefore, attention is directed to thefact that earth scooping buckets are, of course, heavy duty equipment,and

they are necessarily subjected to shock and heavy loads, and for thispurpose, heavy sections, such as the portion 26, are preferably employedin these buckets. The fact that both the bucket and the attachment ofthis invention are to be employed in breaking and digging hardenedground further requires that the bucket be constructed to withstand theshock and impact loads applied to it.

The attachment 11 is shown to consist of a tooth 27 having substantiallythe same wedge shape as that of the teeth 24, and the tooth 27terminates in an edge 28 which is forwardly disposed with respect to thedirection of digging motion of the bucket. Members or four plates 29, 3tand 31 are preferably formed as shown and secured together by weldingorthe like to form a support member 32 for the tooth 27 which is shownattached to the support member by welding to the top plate 29. The twoplates 30 form the opposite sides of the support member 32, and Fig. 1shows the side plates 30 terminating rearwardly in portions 33 disposedalong the top surface of the bottom section 22 of the bucket and,therefore, overlapping the bucket bottom to be in contact therewith.Also, the plates 30 preferably extend underneath the bucket bottom, asbest shown in Fig. 2, and thus each of the plates 30 presents arearwardly faced abutment, such as the abutment 34 shown in Fig. l. Theabutments 34 are disposed in abutting relation with the edge or lip 23of the bucket bottom 22, and the abutments are spaced apart along thelip 23, since the plates 30 acting on the bottom section of the bucketare not as effective as they would be if they were concentrated on thebucket through the width of one of the teeth shown.

Figs. 2 and 3, particularly, show two curved arms or connectors 36suitable attached, such as by Welding along the lines 37, at their lowerends to' the sides of the plate 31 and they are thus connected with thesupport member 32. The arms 36 are curved, as mentioned, to conform tothe curvature of the bottom section 22 of the bucket, and they extend tothe top of the bucket to removably attach through a bolt 38 or the liketo two plates or cars 39 shown welded to the bucket. Thus the bolt 38 isthe only positive attachment between the bucket 10 and the attachment 11and, of course, the bolt 38 can be readily removed for slipping theattachment off the bucket, and the attachment can be readily slippedonto the front edge of the bucket, and the bolt can be readily placedinto the position shown for securing the attachment to the bucket.

Fig. 3 shows that the lower ends of the arms 36 can extend to the centerone of the bucket teeth and thus flank the center tooth which thenrestricts the lateral movement of the attachment with respect to thebucket. Also, Fig. 3 shows two plates 41 which are suitably Welded tothe top insides of the arms 36 to project toward the center of the teeth24 to abut the center tooth upon lateral movement of the attachment and,therefore, further restrict said lateral movement.

In the use of the bucket, it should be understood that the bucket issuspended and moved in the usual manner, that is with the front or toothedge of the bucket being moved downwardly toward the ground, atapproximately an eighty degree ground-striking angle. With theattachment fixed to the bucket, as shown in the drawings, the bucket ispreferably dropped onto the surface of the hardened ground, and thetooth 27 thus penetrates the ground under the force of the droppingbucket. Since only the tooth 27 penetrates the ground, the force of thedropping bucket is concentrated over a small area and, therefore, thehardened ground is penetrated, as desired, and pivotal movement of thebucket effected about the pins 16 through the usual pulling force on thecables 13. This action will cause the tooth 2.7 to tear out or gouge theground around the area penetrated, and thus the hardened ground isbroken up at least on the top layer. Also, continued movement ofpivoting the bucket about the pin 16 and simultaneous lowering of thebucket, if necessary, will cause the bucket with the attachment to scoopthe broken ground. Thus, in one continuous movement of the bucket andthe attachment, ground penetration and scooping can be accomplished.

Since the bucket attachment and its manner of mounting onto a bucketresult in a sturdy construction, it has been found that even a frozenand packed dirt road can be dug up in a fraction of the time required byother known equipment, and there is no damage to the attachment or thebucket. Also, shale, limestone, and the like can be penetrated and dugup.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it should be obvious that certain changes could be made, andthe scope of this invention should, therefore, be limited only by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for an earth scooping bucket which has a body and aplurality of teeth projecting therefrom at the forward lip of the body,the combination of a tooth provided with a pointed end, a support memberattached to said tooth at the end thereof opposite said pointed end,said support member disposed and extending on both sides of the verticallongitudinal plane of said tooth and away from said pointed end thereof,said support member disposed for abutting said forward lip of said bodyof said bucket on both sides of said vertical longitudinal plane of saidtooth, said attachment including means flanking both sides of one ofsaid teeth 4 of said bucket for restricting lateral movement of saidattachment on said bucket, and connecting means attached between saidsupport member and said bucket for securing said support member in theposition for abutting said forward lip.

2. An attachment for an earth scooping bucket which has a body sectionand a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom along the forward lip ofthe body, the combination of a tooth having a pointed end constitutingthe forward end of said tooth, a support member attached to the rearwardend of said tooth and extending rearwardly on both sides of said toothand above and below said teeth of said bucket when said attachment ismounted on said bucket, a rearwardly faced abutment on said member oneach side of said tooth and disposed offset to the vertical plane of theside of said tooth for engaging said lip of the bucket body when saidattachment is mounted thereon, a connector attached to said member andadapted to be attached to said bucket at an underneath and rearwardportion thereof for securing said member to said bucket with each saidabutment engaged with said lip, said tooth and said member arranged todispose said pointed end of said tooth forward of the projection of thefront ends of said teeth of said bucket when said attachment is on saidbucketv 3. An attachment for an earth scooping bucket which has a bodyand a plurality of permanent teeth projecting therefrom at the forwardlip of the bottom section of said body, the combination of a toothprovided with a pointed end, a support member attached to said tooth atthe end thereof opposite said pointed end and extending on both sides ofsaid tooth and away from said pointed end thereof, said support memberarranged for abutting said forward lip and overlapping said bottomnection of said bucket on both sides of the vertical plane of said toothand for disposing said tooth forward of said permanent teeth, meansincluded in said attachment for being disposed adjacent one of saidpermanent teeth of said bucket to restrict lateral movement of saidattachment on said bucket, and connecting means attached to said memberand adapted to be attached to said bucket for securing said member inthe position for abutting said forward lip and overlapping said bottomsection.

4. An attachment for an earth scooping bucket which has a body and aplurality of teeth projecting therefrom at the horizontal forward lip ofthe bottom section of said body, the combination of a tooth having apointed end constituting the forward end of said tooth, a support memberattached to said tooth and extending laterally and rearwardly thereof,said support member disposed in spaced apart portions for receiving oneof said teeth of said bucket and disposed for abutting said forward lipof said bottom section of said bucket on both sides of said tooth,connecting means attached to said support member and adaptable to beremovably attached to said bucket for securing said support member inthe position for both receiving said one of said teeth and for abuttingsaid forward lip, said spaced apart portions at the rearward end of saidsupport member having vertically disposed openings for vertically snuglyreceiving said forward lip of said bottom section.

5. An attachment for an earth scooping bucket which has a body and aplurality of teeth projecting therefrom at the horizontal forward lip ofthe bottom section of said body, the combination of attaching meanssecured to the underside of said bottom section, a tooth having apointed end constituting the forward end of said tooth, a support memberattached to said tooth and extending laterally and rearwardly thereoffor abutting said forward lip of said bottom section of said bucket onboth sides of said tooth, connecting means attached to said supportmember and adaptable to be removably fastened to said attaching means ofsaid bucket for securing said support member in the position forabutting said forward lip, a rearward portion of saidsupport member anda 5 6 portion of said connecting means formed to be verticallyReferences Cited in the file of this patent spaced apart at the rearwardend of said support member for vertically snugly receiving said forwardlip of said UNITED STATES PATENTS bottom section, and means included insaid attachment 1,197,104 Clark Sept. 5, 1916 for flanking one of saidteeth of said bucket for restrict- 5 1,909,850 Youm'e May 16, 1933 inglateral movement of said attachment on said bucket. 2,705,380 HensleyApr. 5, 1955

